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| MATR Newsletter - Tue Feb 14, 2006 |
"Nobody in the game of football should be called a genius. A genius is somebody like Norman Einstein." -- Joe Theismann
Hope you'll be able to participate in two excellent events this week: MATR, MDA And SCORE Roundtable With Missoula Mayor John Engen "The Future Of The Missoula Economy", 2/16, Missoula http://www.matr.net/events.phtml?showdetail=1477 and City Club Missoula “Liberty Can Wait” By UM Journalism Professor Clem Work , 2/17, Missoula, Montana http://www.matr.net/events.phtml?showdetail=1487
MEDA Entrepreneur Working Group
Education
- Best strategy: Nebraska can grow economy from inside by focusing on entrepreneurs
Local businesses that take bold and creative initiatives are far more likely to expand and improve local economies than are outside investors. Towns that wait for a big factory to come along might as well be scratching lottery tickets. The real payout is in helping locally successful businesses to become even more successful.
Montana Business
- University of Minnesota to offer free tuition to needy students
In four years, the program would benefit more than 45-hundred students on the university's four campuses and cost about 22 million dollars a year.
- Tutor Program Offered by Law Is Going Unused
Despite all of the efforts to draw students to tutoring, some students and parents say they are not even aware that they could qualify and continue to express confusion about the free program.
- Students find futures at community colleges
Business leaders say more community colleges are essential to a trained workforce that will attract and expand industry.
- Lights, camera ... education: teaching filmaking in Montana. Ex-Hollywood producer, Peter Rosten mentors Montana kids. Media Arts in Public Schools
"What this program gives students is an opportunity to look at something that's very different than what they have as part of their regular classroom programs," Superintendent of Public Instruction Linda McCulloch said. "It gives them a view into a world that's very different and, frankly, very innovative and exciting."
- The premise of KIPP is simple: Do whatever it takes to learn.
Under a contract signed by students, parents, and teachers, students go to school from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. every weekday, every other Saturday morning, and for an extra month in the summer--over 60 percent more class time than the average school year. Teachers are on call 24-7 to answer questions about homework (the better they teach, the fewer the calls), and parents are held accountable.
- Illinois Governor Suggests Preschool for All
Wants Illinois to become the first state in the nation to offer universal preschool to 3- and 4-year-olds.
- Big, Little tradition: Sussex School finds success pairing students of different ages
It is good to know you have someone to look up to.
Montana Economic Development
- S&K Technologies worker admits committing fraud while in Iraq
The St. Ignatius-based company has received lucrative defense appropriations in recent years, including $63.9 million in contracts for one year beginning in late 2002.
Funding and Building your Business
- Havre, Montana hits high gear
When Mayor Bob Rice casts his gaze over Havre, he sees the promise of hard-working people and a burgeoning community.
- Experience Works for older job seekers in Montana
More Americans are staying in the work force past the traditional retirement age of 65 than ever before.
- University of Montana official, Tony Rudbach dreams big for Economic Development Hub in Glendive
Glendive's mayor supports the idea, but others in eastern Montana and elsewhere laugh at the notion of government-led development on such a scale.
Global Telework
- Got an idea? License it!
Inventors often get just one chance to pitch their wares to a licensing company, Young said. Doing plenty of research, and coming prepared with a succinct pitch, boosts your chances.
- Optimizing Your Cash Flow
The Collection also provides a comprehensive set of tips and tools outlining proven strategies on managing accounts receivable and accounts payable, bootstrapping, and taking on debt.
- Need more business? Try exporting
Have you considered exporting your products or services, but have not been able to find the help you feel you need?
- These Aren't The Companies You Are Looking For - Company Valuation
The key factors in valuing an early stage web technology business and how these factors are being evaluated by investors today.
- I Now Pronounce You...Business Partners
In the end, it is just business. But it's also all too personal.
Regional Business
- 'Brain drain' coming with wave of retirements
" 'Will work for health benefits' is important to older job-seekers, and so is the extra money to cover rising medical costs,"
Regional Economic Development
- High-tech employment back on high wire
Job candidates are getting multiple offers and salaries are rising.
Government Technology
- Videos of local attractions for visitors in hotel rooms idea taking off
Doing a video of things to do in your town to air on one of the channels at the local hotels has stirred up a number of emails from towns that are exploring the idea.
- Under secretary of Rural Development Dorr speaks on rural development. "It would be grevious to let finance in biodiesel, ethanol and wind energy come from outside the state,"
"People are having real choices about where they want to live and where they want to do business,"
- Where the Money Comes From, State Rural Initiatives. A Preliminary Report
Evidence continues to mount that policymakers see the need for programs to benefit rural communities and citizens, but in times of tight state budgets and calls for fiscal restraint, policy-makers wonder if they can afford new programs, projects or initiatives.
Idaho Business
- Montana Achieves National Emergency Management Accreditation
"States like Montana that work toward and achieve compliance with these standards are at the forefront in ensuring their residents are served by a comprehensive system to deal with disasters."
- High Tech in the Heartland. Governor Heineman leads Nebraska to success through IT
Despite having a static population that is only growing older and a farm-based economy that continues to shrink, Nebraska plans to grow with the 21st century, proclaimed Gov. Dave Heineman, and IT will be the catalyst.
- Montana's Online Voter Verification Service Wins Award from the Council of State Governments
"It's great for Montana to be recognized for leading the way in technology." said Montana Secretary of State Brad Johnson. "In a state where people often live more than 20 miles from their polling place, this technology allows us to make sure everyone gets a chance to vote on election day."
- Many States Are Not Confident in Disaster Plans, Survey Finds
"We must have effective plans that detail how leaders and organizations will synchronize intergovernmental efforts to deal with the problems generated by catastrophic events,"
Wyoming Business
- Learning to work. New Idaho job training program helps businesses lower training costs
Simplification and bureaucracy are not words that often go together, but a new on-the-job training program to help qualified businesses reduce the cost of training new employees is now available in Idaho.
Incubators and R&D
- Wyoming Governor Dave Freudenthal cites need to invest in future
"And no one ever built a business or a state by saving every penny and failing to invest in infrastructure and people."
Business Plan Forums
- Eighty below and loving it: Montana State University scientists to get new cold lab
" I think this could alter the course of research on this campus," he said. "This is something for the whole university."
The Creative and Cultural Economy
- Technology Association Of Georgia, Georgia Research Alliance Announce Innovative Business Launch Competition
Technology Leaders Will Mentor Candidates and Judge Plans
Non-Profit News
- Great Falls native Trever Fadrhonchas high hopes for a future as a film director in Hollywood
Blockbuster is considering using the film in some fashion; its chief executive liked it.
Energy
- A foundation of equality Women run 10 of Colorado's 20 largest foundations.
Nationwide, women hold 56 percent of all foundation CEO positions and 75 percent of all program officer positions, according to a report released last week by the Council on Foundations.
- Montana Nonprofit Association Appoints 15 Leaders to Public Policy Council
The MNA Board of Director’s established the Public Policy Council to provide advice and direction to the MNA Board regarding public policy issues of critical importance to Montana’s nonprofit sector.
- Washington state nonprofit, Stone Soup, launches www.shopthefrontier.org to help local residents market their handcrafted products globally
It has created jobs and hope for residents where before there were none.
Community
- Demand fuels Seattle Biodiesel expansion
“We obviously want to be a national company,” he said. “And we think we have a better, faster, cheaper way to make biodiesel that we can replicate all over the country and internationally.”
- NY team confirms UCLA tabletop fusion
"Our study shows that 'crystal fusion' is a mature technology with considerable commercial potential,"
Leadership Montana
- Volunteer Income Tax Assistant Program in Progress at Montana State University
Free tax help on Tuesdays beginning Feb. 7, 2005 for MSU students and individuals who made less than $35,000 last year, according to Anne Christensen, professor of accounting at MSU.
- The O'Connor Center for the Rocky Mountain West, The University of Montana February/March 2006 Newsletter
The Center does a wide range of work in the state and in the region – exploring our history, current challenges, and emerging opportunities.
- How to Be a Mensch by Guy Kawasaki
#1 Help people who cannot help you.
- The O’Connor Center for the Rocky Mountain West at The University of Montana has received $40,000 to operate the Indian Leaders Institute for a second year.
The grant will help the institute continue efforts to enhance tribal self-governance, strengthen American Indian/state relations and encourage opportunities for future Indian leaders now graduating from post-secondary schools.
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